The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-19
NARROW ESCAPE

OF an Ocean Stenmer-She Arrives in Port
Pretty Well Battered Up.
New YoRK, Jan. IS.-The State Line
steamer State Of Penn sylvania looked as
though she had passed through naval
battle as she alowly. steamed up to her
dock at the foot OF Leroy street, North
river, last evening. The four liieboats
we're gone, together with their davitts and
part OF tho port rail abaft the bridge had
been torn away and the rear patched up
with ropes and pieces Of board. The deck
was dented IN several places, the foresail
split to ribbons and the skylight on the
main deck emashed into fragments.
Ropes, chains and chain cables had been
ewedt away and much other damage
done. In fact, the steamer had been
struck by wave very similar to, the ones
that crushed in the turtle back" of the
steamer Westernland. but fortunately in
thfs case no loss Of life resulted. Captain
Mann says he never experienced such
gigantic wave before, and the passengers
who were glad to get on terra irma, de.
scribed it as awful. rt,;.I II
The steamer was five days overdue, and
has occupied seventeen days in the pass
age from Glasgow. Rough weather all the
way has retarded her passage, and the &C.
cident made matters worse. 1t WAS on
the llth inst, and the steamer wes off the
banks Of Newfoundland. Captain Mann
had just retired to his cabin to obtain q
little rest, and Second officer Walker and
Third Officer Arthurs were also in bed.
Chief Officer Downing alone stood on the
bridge. The vessel was steering west
Bonthwest, right In the teeth Of the wind,
which was blowing fresh. Suddenly the
officer, saw tremendous sea advancing.
It was in the form OF a pyramid and seena-
ed to tower far above the vessel. It came
down on the. deck just abaft the bridge,
and swept toward the stern, carrying
everything with it. The stout life- boats
were crushed to fragments, and two Of
them, stocked with weeks provisions,
carried overheard. The water poured
over the bridge, dreuching Officer Down
ing, who clutched the rail for dear life.
The huge plate glses OF the skyli9ht was
smashed and tons Of water, carrying brok-
en- glass and movable articles from the
deck above poured through into the
saloon. 3 ~ (, !, x,
Many OF the saloon pasaengera were at
dinner, and the ecene that followed almoat
batl 70 description. The dinner services
and portions OF the dinner itself we're dis
tributed about the room in most indis.
criminate manner, and the passengers,
frightened out Of their wits, thought the
vessel was going to tho bottom, Women
screamed and tainted, and some went
into violent Mysteries. William Peck, Of
Toronto, did his ibest to reaaaure the
frightened people, and Samuel Bennett, a
London barrister, who was coming to
New York with his family, also helped to
calm their fears. When the sea receded
there was calm for a moment, and then
seas rolled in on the vessel, thrsaten-
ing to enpulf hcr. The deck was a mass
Of wreckage. The sailors worked with a
will, directed by Captain Mann, who
came on deck in his stockings. Tho
steamer did not leak drop. and rode out
the gale tbst iollowed-the worst, Gap.
tain Mann says, he has experienced in
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